Thinking of installing a doggie door for your
small pouch?
by Janice Jones Last Updated 04-28-2024.
Most of us consider our small breed dog to be a family member, albeit one with paws.
What
better way to say, we love you and want to give you a little more freedom.
A dog door can make our furbaby feel free,
giving him the option of going in and out
at any time of his choosing.
For independent thinking breeds who love making their
own decisions, a door all of his own can be liberating. Even very dependent breeds, you know, the velcro breeds also like the idea of a dog to the outdoors.
But in most cases, dogs, especially the more nervous ones, will not find it easy to use the
dog door, at least not at first.
Some dogs will naturally just use the door once they know its
purpose, but for those who don’t, you came to the right place!
We will show you
how to train a dog to use a dog door
in this article.
My Doggie Door In Action
But first, I want to show you a dog door in action. I no longer have the door because my door was an odd size and needed replacing. Placing a doggie door into the new door was impossible, but I will tell you that my dogs really missed it. (And I miss it too)
This little video was made by my daughter many years ago when she was still in high school.
Training Your Dog to Use a Doggie Door
Just as there are different kinds
of dog breeds, there are many methods for doing everything.
That’s why
there are also different approaches to
training your dog how to use the dog door.
Tips for Training
Don’t forget these tips before you start
training your dog:
- Even before installing the doggie door, start
introducing your dog to the use of the “human” door. This lets him enjoy its
purpose and will start looking forward to his freedom of going in and out.
- Your dog will begin to appreciate
the access he has to the outside and will be motivated to use the dog door
once the larger human door is closed. - While
teaching your dog how to use the dog door, you may see that you will need to
step outside (or inside if your dog is outside, of course) and call your pet
through the door.
- While you are still teaching your dog how to use
the doggie door, consider taping the flap of the doggie door up on your wall. This
is to make sure that your dog does not get too surprised or shocked when the
dog gets hit by the door during the early parts of training.
Once your dog
starts becoming a little more comfortable in using the open doggie door, start
with one of our methods mentioned in the next part of this article.
Method One: Call Your Dog From the Other Side
Consider if your dog would be more comfortable
being taught outside or inside the house.
If your dog is more of an inside pet,
start with placing him outside. On the other hand, if your dog is more
comfortable being outside, start training him inside.
Even if you are unsure whether he prefers indoors or out, this method can
still work.
Start calling your dog from the other side and
make sure to use hand gestures. Make sure that you have lifted the flap of the
doggie door as mentioned previously.
If your dog has achieved the goal of going
in or out the doggie door, never forget
to reward with treats and lots of verbal
encouragement.
But don’t stop there! Go to the other side of the door and call him again. Don’t forget
to give your dog a break before repeating a few exercises to avoid draining him
or her.
When he gets comfortable enough going through the
door with the flap up, gradually put the flap down more and more, until it
comes to the point where he goes through the door on his own, even without you
calling him.
Second Method: Show me the Treat
Show your dog that there’s a
treat on the other side.
Choose your dog’s favorite treat. Just like the
first method, see where your dog would be more comfortable, whether inside or
outside and place him on the other side.
Make sure you’ve taped
the flap of the doggie door so as not to scare your dog if he gets hit with it.
Start calling your dog from the other side and show him the treat on your
hands.
Don’t let your dog have the treat unless he goes
all the way through the door. Once he does, give
him the treat but don’t stop there.
Go to the other side of the door and
repeat until he’s confident enough to go through the door even with the flap
down or without you calling him.
Third Method: Get Physical
Physically guide, that is, your dog
through the door.
For dogs who are less fearful, this may be the
perfect method for them. Pick your dog up
and push him through the door in a gentle manner.
Give him verbal encouragement
when he gets through so he knows he did the right thing. You could also give
him treats when he is out to encourage him.
If your dog does not react negatively to you
pushing him through the door, push through with this method. Never forget to
give him verbal encouragement and give him treats as a reward.
Conclusion
There are
different methods for the different personalities of dogs. Just choose the
right one for your dog and make sure that you never forget to reward him when he does a good job. Your dog
will be using his very own dog door in no time!
Dog Doors on Amazon
Here are a couple of different designs. Click on the link for price and more information
Ideal Pet Products Aluminum Pet Patio Door, Adjustable Height 77-5/8” to 80-3/8”, 5” x 7” Flap Size, Mill/Silver
PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Pet Door for Dogs and Cats, Medium, White, Tinted Vinyl Flap
Perfect Pet Pet Door with Telescoping Frame, Medium, 7″ x 11″ Flap Size
Dog Training Recommendations For You
About Janice (author and voice behind this site)
Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, Janice served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.
Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master’s in Mental Health Counseling.
She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu, but she has also lived with Poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, English Bulldogs, Carin Terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel.
When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu and Smart-Knit-Crocheting
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